PIB TrackerCoast Guard inducts its first indigenous Air Cushion Vehicle
The Indian Coast Guard inducted the first of six home-built hovercraft (ACVs) in Goa, boosting its ability to operate in shallow waters, creeks and mudflats — a step for self-reliance in the maritime industrial base.
What happened
- The first of six indigenous Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs) being built by Chowgule & Company Private Limited for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) was inducted into service in Goa on 18 June 2026.
- The hovercraft is intended to enhance the ICG's effectiveness across a broad spectrum of maritime duties — patrolling shallow waters, creeks, mudflats and coastal stretches inaccessible to conventional vessels.
- Its induction was framed as advancing the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and reflecting the growing strength of the country's maritime industrial base.
- The ceremony was held in the presence of senior ICG officials and shipbuilding-industry representatives.
- The induction underscores the ICG's focus on modernisation and capability enhancement in support of its mandate to safeguard India's maritime interests.
For Prelims
- Air Cushion Vehicle (ACV): A hovercraft that rides on a cushion of air, letting it move over water, mudflats, marshes, sandbanks and shallow creeks — ideal for patrolling areas where conventional boats cannot go.
- Indian Coast Guard (ICG): India's fourth armed force, established under the Coast Guard Act, 1978 (raised on 19 August 1978), functioning under the Ministry of Defence.
- ICG's mandate: Protection of India's maritime zones and EEZ, marine search-and-rescue, anti-smuggling and anti-poaching, marine pollution response, and coastal security (a lead role post-26/11).
- Aatmanirbhar in defence: Indigenous construction (here by a private Indian shipyard) supports self-reliance and a stronger domestic maritime/shipbuilding industrial base.
- Where ACVs serve: The ICG operates hovercraft along the Gujarat creeks (Sir Creek/Rann of Kutch), Sundarbans and other shallow coastal zones for surveillance and rescue.
- SAGAR/MAHASAGAR vision: India's maritime-security outlook for the Indian Ocean frames such capability building for regional security and safety.
- Don't confuse: The Coast Guard (fourth armed force, coastal/EEZ security, MoD) is distinct from the Indian Navy (blue-water defence); an ACV/hovercraft is distinct from a conventional patrol boat.
For UPSC: The ICG inducted its first of six indigenous Air Cushion Vehicles (hovercraft) in Goa, built by an Indian shipyard, boosting shallow-water patrol and self-reliance. Anchor the Indian Coast Guard (Coast Guard Act 1978, fourth armed force, MoD), its mandate (EEZ/maritime-zone protection, SAR, coastal security), the ACV/hovercraft's shallow-water role, and Aatmanirbhar shipbuilding.
What it is NOT: The Indian Coast Guard (the fourth armed force, focused on coastal and EEZ security under the MoD) is not the Indian Navy (blue-water defence). An Air Cushion Vehicle is a hovercraft riding on an air cushion — not a conventional displacement patrol boat; it is for shallow waters/creeks, not deep-sea combat.
For Mains
Syllabus: GS3.12 · GS3.17 · Linkage L2
Anchor
Coastal and maritime security with self-reliance — indigenous platforms strengthening the Coast Guard and the domestic shipbuilding base.
Substantiation (data)
ICG inducted first of six indigenous ACVs (hovercraft) built by Chowgule & Company, Goa, 18 June 2026; supports Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
Exemplification
Cite indigenous ACVs (with other Make-in-India naval/coast-guard platforms) as examples of self-reliant defence manufacturing for niche operational needs.
Problematisation
Coastal-security gaps, vast shoreline and creek networks, and dependence on imported sub-systems remain challenges for maritime surveillance.
Way-forward
Expand indigenous shallow-water and surveillance fleets, integrate coastal-security mechanisms, and deepen private-shipyard participation.
Position
Government stance: indigenous induction modernises the Coast Guard and advances Aatmanirbhar Bharat in the maritime sector.
Deploys into: Coastal/maritime security (ICG, Coast Guard Act 1978) · self-reliant defence shipbuilding (Aatmanirbhar) · maritime-domain awareness & SAGAR (GS3.12 indigenisation & new technology, GS3.17 security & defence).
Ministry of Defence · 2026-06-18 · PRID 2274642 · PIB source ↗